Laois dash Louth hopes

Laois 2-10 Louth 1-13

Chris Conway and Brian McCormack kicked two injury-time points for Laois as they dashed Louth’s hopes of victory in Portlaoise by nabbing a draw.

Goals from Aaron Hoey and Shane Lennon had Louth on course for a first win over Laois since 2000.

Five minutes in, Hoey fired past Laois’ stand-in ‘keeper Michael Nolan.

Ross Munnelly (0-3 (3f)) had Laois level at half-time - 1-5 to 0-8 - before he offloaded for Barry Brennan to slam home a 41st-minute goal.

Drama followed as Nolan saved Mark Stanfield’s penalty before Lennon netted on 55 minutes. Hoey added two more points but Laois’ late rally produced a stalemate.

Billy Sheehan made his first start of the campaign for Laois at right half-forward, and the midlanders also had Graiguecullen clubman Brennan starting in place of Michael Tierney.

Louth had Alan Page starting for injured captain Peter McGinnity and they made the best possible when a searching ball from Ray Finnegan found its way to Lennon and he freed Hoey who slotted past Nolan, who was deputising for Fergal Byron.

Although Munnelly and Brennan helped the home side bounce back with points, it was Louth who continued to hold a slender edge.

Darren Clarke added two points for Louth but in the closing minutes of the half, overs from ‘Beano’ McDonald and Paul Lawlor ensured that the teams were level for the first time at 1-5 to 0-8.

Louth regained the lead with a point from the lively Finnegan, five minutes after the restart, but two minutes later Laois began their brightest period as they took the lead for the first time.

Munnelly helped dispatch a good pass to Brennan and from close range the full-forward had no trouble scoring what proved to be his side’s only goal.

At the other end, Louth won a penalty as Lennon was brought down near the square but Stanfield's shot, to the ‘keeper’s right, was brilliantly saved by Nolan. Stanfield did add a point but two for Laois from Munnelly saw the home side ahead 1-10 to 1-8 as the game entered the final quarter.

The home side were stunned when Louth full-forward Lennon shook off a couple of tackles before unleashing a fierce left foot drive to the roof of the net.

Points from Hoey saw the visitors lead by two with four minutes remaining, however, for the second game running, the Wee men surrendered a two-point lead in the closing minutes.

Against Armagh they conceded an injury-time goal and today points from Conway and McCormack, who was set up with aplomb by Gary Kavanagh, saw Louth denied at the death.